Movable support assemblies for mineral mines

ABSTRACT

A movable support assembly resiliently connected to a longwall conveyor in a mineral mining installation. The assembly has an advance roof support member disposed adjacent to and connectable to the conveyor and a number of other roof support members. One or more shifting units serve to displace the advance support member and the conveyor relative to the remaining support members. Resilient guide means serve to guide the advance support member during displacement. A bridging element extending parallel to the conveyor interconnects the support members disposed adjacent either end thereof. The resilient parts of the assembly compensate for any irregularities or deviation from the horizontal in the floor surface of the working.

Unie States Patent 1 minim Inventors Egon Warns;

Gunther Dommann; Manfred Floter, Altlunen, Germany May 14, 1969 Apr. 27, 1971 Gewerkschalt Eisenhutte Westphalia Wethmar near Lunen, Westphalia, Germany App]. No. Filed Patented Assignee MOVABLE SUPPORT ASSEMBLIES FOR MINERAL MINES 5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 61/45, 248/357 Int. Cl E2ld 15/44 Field of Search 61/45; 248/357; 91/170 (MP) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,355,213 11/1967 Seddon 61/45X 3,383,867 5/1968 Ormerod 61/45 3,455,113 7/1969 Dommann et al. 61/45 FOREIGN PATENTS 999,671 7/1965 Great Britain 61/45 1,462,846 11/1966 France 61/45 1,224,251 9/1966 Germany 61/45 Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor Attorney-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak ABSTRACT: A movable support assembly resiliently connected to a longwall conveyor in a mineral mining installation. The assembly has an advance roof support member disposed adjacent to and connectable to the conveyor and a number of other roof support members. One or more shifting units serve to displace the advance support member and the conveyor relative to the remaining support members. Resilient guide means serve to guide the advance support member during displacement. A bridging element extending parallel to the conveyor interconnects the support members disposed adjacent either end thereof. The resilient parts of the assembly compensate for any irregularities or deviation from the horizontal in the floor surface of the working.

PATENTEU APRZY 197i MOVABLE SUPPORT ASSEMBLIES IFOR MINERAL MINES BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Movable support assemblies for mineral mining are well known and generally these support assemblies have hydraulically operated props able to withstand great roof pressures. It is possible to use an advance prop to support the part of the roof lying between the main part of the assembly and the mineral face. This advance prop can be moved with longwall conveyor installed alongside the mineral face without shifting the main part of the support assembly with the aid of a hydraulic shifting device arranged between the main part of the assembly and the advance prop. Furthermore the advance prop forms an abutment for the conveyor which can become displaced during the mineral winning operating.

In the known support assemblies of the above-mentioned kind various problems arise due to the fact that the floor of a mine working is normally not level and irregular. When the mine gallery floor does not have a flat course the support assembly can inadvertently shift towards the lower part of the floor during the advancing movement towards the mineral face.

It is therefore a main object of the invention to improve a support assembly of the above-mentioned kind so that the advanced prop can be connected substantially angularly rigidly with the conveyor, but guide means provided between the advance prop and the remainder of the assembly determines the direction of movement of the support assembly. A further object is to ensure that the connection between the advance prop and the conveyor should permit a certain slight mobility to allow the adaptation to irregularities of the floor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention there is provided in or for a mineral mining installation a movable support assembly comprising:

a. at least three hydraulically-operated roof support members;

b. bridging means connecting two of said at least three roof support members so that they are nondisplaceable relative to one another in a direction transverse of their longitudinal axes;

c. at least one hydraulically-operated piston and cylinder unit operably connected between said two support members and the third support member, said unit serving to relatively displace the third support member on the one hand and said two support members on the other hand in a direction transversely of their longitudinal axes; and

d. resilient guide means connected to the bridging means and serving to guide the third support member during displacement thereof, the resilient guide means being flexible mainly in the vertical direction.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a mineral mining installation comprising:

a. a longwall conveyor disposed alongside a mineral face a movable support assembly comprising:

a. at least three hydraulically-operated roof support members;

b. bridging means connecting two of said at least three roof support members so that they are nondisplaceable relative to one another in a direction transverse of their longitudinal axes;

c. a resilient connecting element connecting the third support member with the conveyor;

d. at least one hydraulically-operated piston and cylinder unit operably connected between said two support members and the third support member said unit serving to relatively displace the third support member and the conveyor on the one hand and said two support member on the other hand in a direction transversely of their longitudinal axes; and

e. resilient guide means connected to the bridging means and serving to guide the third support member during displacement thereof, the resilient means being flexible mainly in the vertical direction.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention there is provided an installation wherein the third support member is in the form of a sleeve into which a prop is received for vertical sliding, the prop being a roof girder at its upper end and having a prop foot at its lower end, and wherein there is further provided springs disposed between the sleeve and the prop and arranged to urge the latter toward the roof. Thus, in addition to the necessary mobility of the connection between the third support member or advance prop and conveyor, the advance prop can lift itself off the floor when it is relieved of the setting pressure before advancing. The advance prop therefore remains abutting against the roof with a pressure determined by the springs even during displacement, so that relatively light roof pieces are prevented from falling.

The guide means preferably includes a flexible bar connected to the sleeve and extending for sliding movement through a part carried by said bridging means.

The resilient connecting element serving to connect the advance prop to the conveyor preferably consists of two spring bars extending parallel to the conveyor and attached to the sleeve and connecting pieces disposed at the ends of the spring bars which are attachable to the: conveyor.

In order to prevent the advance prop and its roof girder from rotating out of the correct alignment the prop is preferably secured against rotation in relation to the sleeve, for example, by a rod connected with the prop foot and I engaging the sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING A constructional embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a mineral mining installation; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1, a mineral winning machine in the form of a coal plow 11 is slidably guided on the side of a Iongwall conveyor 10 adjacent a coal face. A bracket or plate 12 is attached to the waste of goaf side of the conveyor 10 and serves to connect the conveyor to a movable support assembly of this invention. To this end, the plate 12 has apertured lugs which are pivotably connected in hinge fashion to further apertured lugs carried by two flat bars 14 made from a resilient material. The bars 14 are attached to an upright sleeve 15 into which a hydraulically-operated extendible prop 16 is slidably received. The prop 16 can slide vertically in the sleeve 15 but is nonrotatablc therein. In order to prevent the prop 16 from rotating in the sleeve 15, the sleeve 15 can have a guide 60 which receives a rod 61 attached to a prop foot 19 disposed at the lower end of the prop 16. The prop 16 engages a roof girder 18 which, in plan view, is laterally disposed between two further roof girders (not designated) carried by props 20 to 23. Since the roof girder 18 is only carried by a single prop 16 a leaf spring 51 is provided to maintain its correct horizontal alignment with respect to the other roof girders. The leaf spring 51 also allows the roof girder 18 to adapt itself to irregularities in the structure of the roof. As mentioned, the lower end of the prop I6 is provided with the prop foot 19 which in known fashion rests on the floor when the prop 16 is set. Compression springs 17 are provided between the sleeve 15 and the prop 16 and these springs 17 serve to urge the prop 16 against the roof. Thus, even although the prop 16 may not be fully extended by hydraulic pressure it still engages the roof due to the action of the spring 17 and the prop foot 19 may be raised off the floor. In this condition the force exerted on the roof by the roof girder 18 is determined by the springs 17.

The support assembly is further provided with four hydraulically-operated extendible props 20, 21, 22 and 23, which are arranged in a rectangular configuration as shown in FIG. 2. In known manner each prop to 23 has a prop foot engagable with the floor. The props 20 and 21 are interconnected by a sole bar 24 and likewise the props 22 and 23 are interconnected by a sole bar 25. The sole bars 24, 25 are each formed from a pair of flat springs arranged one above another. The sole bars 24, 25 are in turn interconnected by means of a resilient bridging element 26.

At about the center of the element 26 a guiding device 27 is arranged. The device 27 serves to guide the prop 16 as the latter is displaced along the central longitudinal plane of the assembly. To this end, a flat spring bar 28 is slidably received in the device 27.

The bar 28 is pivotably connected to the sleeve 15 at 29. The element 26 is also connected to carry the cylinder 30 of a hydraulic piston and cylinder shifting unit having a piston rod 31 pivotally connected to the sleeve 15 at 32. The props 22, 23 carry a roof girder and likewise the props 20, 21 carry a further roof girder. These roof girders are interconnected by a horizontal link in known manner.

When the conveyor 10 is to be advanced towards the coal face the four props 20 to 23 are firmly braced between the 'floor and the roof whereas the prop 16 is relieved of pressure.

As mentioned above, despite the fact that the prop 16 is relieved the roof girder 18 remains in contact with the roof even if the prop foot 19 has been raised off the floor. The forward displacement of the conveyor 10 and the associated advance prop 16 is effected by extension of the piston rod 31. The guidance effected inter alia by the spring bar 28 ensures that the conveyor 10 and prop 16 do not tilt or slip in the direction of dip. Due to the flexibility of the bar 28 the conveyor 10 and prop 16 can adapt to any unevenness in the floor. After forward displacement of the conveyor 10 and the prop 16 the prop 16 is reset in its roof supporting condition and during passage of the plow 11 in coal winning the prop l6 additionally serves to prevent the conveyor 10 from being inadvertently moved. When coal has been removed from the face to a certain extent it will then be necessary to advance the conveyor 10 again. The above sequence of events is then repeated and this can be continued until the piston rod 31 is fully extended when it is necessary to advance the remainder of the assembly. To this end, the props 20 to 23 are relieved and the prop 16 remains set. The cylinder 30 is charged with hydraulic pressure medium in a reverse manner to before so that the piston rod 31 is effectively retracted. Since the piston rod 31 is held rigidly by the loaded prop 16 the cylinder 30 and the parts of the assembly connected to the element 26 including the props 20 to 23 are moved towards the prop 16. This movement can take its full course until the piston rod 31 is fully retracted and then the props 20 to 23 are reset in their roof supporting position.

The connection between the conveyor 10 and the advance prop l6 and the connection between the prop 16 and the remainder of the support assembly including the four props 20 to 23 possess a certain flexibility so that the assembly can adapt itself to irregularities of the floor without the occurrence of damage or permanent deformation to the connecting elements. The connecting elements are however sufficiently rigid to prevent a deviation of direction in the advancing of the support system even in a working with a dipping gallery.

We claim: 1. ln or for a mineral mining installation a movable support assembly comprising:

at least three hydraulically-operated roof support members;

bridging means connecting two of said at least three roof support members so that they are nondisplaceable relative to one another in a direction transverse of their longitudinal axes;

at least one hydraulically-operated piston and cylinder unit operably connected between said two support members and the third support member, said unit serving to relatively displace the third support member on the one hand and said two support members on the other hand in a direction transversely of their longitudinal axes, the third support member being in the form of a sleeve into which a prop is received for vertical sliding, the prop bearing a roof girder at is upper end and having a prop foot at its lower end;

springs disposed between said sleeve and the prop and arranged to urge the latter towards the roof of a mine working when in use; and

resilient guide means connected to the bridging means and serving to guide the third support member during displacement thereof, the resilient guide means being flexible mainly in the vertical direction.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said guide means includes a flexible bar connected to the sleeve and extending for sliding movement through apart carried by said bridging means.

3. A mineral mining installation comprising:

a longwall conveyor disposed alongside a mineral face;

at least three hydraulically-operated roof support members;

bridging means connecting two of said at least three roof support members so that they are nondisplaceable relative to one another in a direction transverse of their longitudinal axes;

at least one hydraulically-operated piston and cylinder unit operably connected between said two support members and the third support member, said unit serving to relatively displace the third support member on the one hand and said two support members on the other hand in a direction transversely of their longitudinal axes, the third support member being in the form of a sleeve into which a prop is received for vertical sliding, the prop bearing a roof girder at its upper end and having a prop foot at its lower end;

springs disposed between said sleeve and the prop and arranged to urge the latter towards the roof of a mine working when in use;

resilient guide means connected to the bridging means and serving to guide the third support member during displacement thereof, the resilient guide means being flexible mainly in the vertical direction; and

a resilient connecting element connecting the third support member with the conveyor, said connecting element being in the form of two spring bars extending parallel to the conveyor and attached to the sleeve and connecting pieces disposed at the ends of the spring bars which are attachable to the conveyor.

4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein means are provided for preventing rotation of the prop within the sleeve.

5. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bridging means is resilient. 

1. In or for a mineral mining installation a movable support assembly comprising: at least three hydraulically-operated roof support members; bridging means connecting two of said at least three roof support members so that they are nondisplaceable relative to one another in a direction transverse of their longitudinal axes; at least one hydraulically-operated piston and cylinder unit operably connected between said two support members and the third support member, said unit serving to relatively displace the third support member on the one hand and said two support members on the other hand in a direction transversely of their longitudinal axes, the third support member being in the form of a sleeve into which a prop is received for vertical sliding, the prop bearing a roof girder at is upper end and having a prop foot at its lower end; springs disposed between said sleeve and the prop and arranged to urge the latter towards the roof of a mine working when in use; and resilient guide means connected to the bridging means and serving to guide the third support member during displacement thereof, the resilient guide means being flexible mainly in the vertical direction.
 2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said guide means includes a flexible bar connected to the sleeve and extending for sliding movement through a part carried by said bridging means.
 3. A mineral mining installation comprising: a longwall conveyor disposed alongside a mineral face; at least three hydraulically-operated roof support members; bridging means connecting two of said at least three roof support members so that they are nondisplaceable relative to one another in a direction transverse of their longitudinal axes; at least one hydraulically-operated piston and cylinder unit operably connected between said two support members and the third support member, said unit serving to relatively displace the third support member on the one hand and said two support members on the other hand in a direction transversely of their longitudinal axes, the third support member being in the form of a sleeve into which a prop is received for vertical sliding, the prop bearing a roof girder at its upper end and having a prop foot at its lower end; springs disposed between said sleeve and the prop and arranged to urge the latter towards the roof of a mine working when in use; resilient guide means connected to the bridging means and serving to guide the third support member during displacement thereof, the resilient guide means being flexible mainly in the vertical direction; and a resilient connecting element connecting the third support member with the conveyor, said connecting element being in the form of two spring bars extending parallel to the conveyor and attached to the sleeve and connecting pieces disposed at the ends of the spring bars which are attachable to the conveyor.
 4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein means are provided for preventing rotation of the prop within the sleeve.
 5. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bridging means is resilient. 